Ivy League Kids

What Ivy League Kids does

Ivy League Kids, operating under the Kids Fit Foundation 501c3 nonprofit, delivers before- and after-school childcare plus enrichment programming for K–8 students across 25+ school districts in the Chicago metropolitan area and Indiana, with a flagship owned facility (Ivy League Mokena Rec Center, 8500 W. 191st St.) serving as the operational hub. Core offerings include the Before & After School Program (on-site delivery within school buildings with district-provided transportation to the Rec Center), Summer Camp (age-tiered Pioneers/Adventurers/X-TEAM tracks), an American Montessori Society Full Member preschool–kindergarten program (ages 3–6), the Kinderbridge half-day Pre-K extension, Little Dribblers developmental basketball, Day Off Programming on school holidays, after-school clubs (STEM, cooking), DCFS-licensed infant/toddler daycare via a Ridgeland District 122 partnership, and birthday party / gym rentals at Mokena. Programmatic IP includes a STEM curriculum, Montessori methodology, SEL/character development, and structured sports programming, supported by CPR/First-Aid certified, background-checked staff.

The business is a direct-to-consumer childcare provider with a hybrid nonprofit operating model. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition (district-specific monthly subscriptions with automatic withdrawal), seasonal summer camp fees, unit-priced ancillary services (Little Dribblers at $105–130 per season, Day Off Programming at $55/day, cooking classes at $80 for four weeks, Montessori registration at $60–75), and one-time facility rental income (birthday parties with add-on popcorn, bounce house, and hourly extensions). Distribution is achieved by embedding programs inside partner school districts (20+ in Illinois, 2 in Indiana) and through partner-facility Day Off Programming at churches and community centers; families register online via a MyProCare parent portal with electronic signature workflows (Adobe Sign, PandaDoc), and qualifying households use the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) subsidy channel managed with Illinois Action for Children.

The organization is led by CEO Joe Evans and COO Dan Evans with a Managing Director of Business Development (Christina Knabjian) and functional directors covering programming, early education, HR, district operations, and enrichment; recognized externally via a National Afterschool Association honor (2020) and AMS Full Member accreditation. There is no disclosed revenue, no outside funding, no M&A activity, and no AI/technology platform layer — the business is a labor-intensive, location-anchored services operation whose defensibility rests on district relationships, credentialed curriculum, and multi-year family retention rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Ivy League Kids

Legal name

Kids Fit Foundation

Website

https://ivyleaguekids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ivy League Kids is a 501c3 nonprofit (Kids Fit Foundation) that runs before- and after-school childcare, summer camp, Montessori, and enrichment programs for K–8 children across 25+ school districts in Illinois and Indiana, anchored by its owned Mokena Rec Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Play-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAE), Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB), General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Before and after school care
• Childcare services
• Montessori education
• Summer camp programs
• Youth enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mokena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Before & After School Program Tuition: Recurring tuition payments for before and after school childcare services. Payment is due on a regular schedule (typically weekly/bi-weekly) with automatic withdrawal required. Families can also use CCAP state assistance to cover costs.
2. Summer Camp Tuition: Seasonal camp program with tiered pricing based on registration timing. Winter Little Dribblers league ranges from $105-130 per child. Day Off Programming costs $55 per child including meals.
3. Birthday Party and Gym Rentals: Private party bookings at Mokena Rec Center with add-ons including fresh popcorn ($35), bounce house ($45), and extra time ($100/hour). Revenue from facility rentals for events.
4. Montessori School Tuition: Preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten programs with non-refundable registration fees ($75 for new families, $60 for returning). Full and half-day options available.
5. Day Off Programming: Full-day childcare on school holidays at $55 per child, including breakfast, lunch, and snack. Field trips available for additional fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ivy League Kids provides before and after school childcare, summer camps, Montessori early education, and youth enrichment programs for children ages 3-14 across 25+ school districts in Illinois and Indiana. Programming is delivered on-site at partner schools, at the owned Mokena Rec Center, and at partner facilities, with a focus on fitness, recreation, STEM, character development, and academic enrichment rather than basic babysitting.

Product overview

Ivy League Kids operates a portfolio of childcare and youth development programs primarily serving the Chicago metropolitan area. The core offering is the Before & After School Program providing before/after school care for K-8th grade across 20+ school districts. This is complemented by Summer Camp with multiple age tracks (Pioneers, Adventurers, X-TEAM), the Montessori School for ages 3-6, and the Kinderbridge pre-kindergarten extension program. Additional offerings include Little Dribblers basketball league, Day Off Programming for school holidays, Birthday Parties & Gym Rentals, After School Clubs (cooking, STEM), and Early Education/Daycare for infants and toddlers. Programs are delivered at school sites, the Mokena Rec Center headquarters, and partner locations throughout Illinois and Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Before & After School Program Before and after school childcare program serving Kindergarten through 8th grade students with fitness, recreation, academic enrichment, homework help, and STEM activities, delivered on-site at 25+ partner school districts.
• Summer Camp Full-day summer camp for K-8th grade with field trips, swimming, sports, and enrichment clubs, divided into age-specific tracks: Pioneers (PreK-K), Adventurers (1st-5th), and X-TEAM (6th-8th). Available at Mokena, Homewood, Chicago Ridge, Manteno, and Shorewood locations.
• Montessori School American Montessori Society full member school for children ages 3-6 featuring multi-age classrooms, hands-on learning materials, and self-directed activities following Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy, with full and half-day preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten options.
• Kinderbridge Pre-Kindergarten extended day program for children enrolled in half-day Pre-K classes, transporting students from local school districts to Ivy League sites for additional enrichment programming.
• Little Dribblers Basketball League Developmental basketball league for K-3rd grade teaching dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork through weekly practices and Saturday games with volunteer coaches, using age-appropriate equipment.
• Day Off Programming All-day childcare program offered on school holidays and teacher institute days featuring activities, games, creative projects, and optional field trips at multiple locations including Faith Lutheran Church (Homewood), Freedom Activity Center (Chicago Ridge), Hope Lutheran Church (Shorewood), and Manteno Elementary.
• Birthday Parties & Gym Rentals Private gym rental and party hosting service at the Mokena Rec Center with organized games, activities, party host, setup, and cleanup for birthday parties and group celebrations, with add-ons including fresh popcorn, bounce house, and extra time.
• After School Clubs Enrichment clubs including Young Chef Cooking Club and Science Kids STEM Club offered at the Mokena Rec Center for hands-on learning experiences.
• Early Education / Daycare DCFS-licensed in-district childcare for district staff serving infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds with Montessori-inspired curriculum and age-specific care, offered through a partnership with Ridgeland School District 122.

Quantifiable outcome

• All Site Directors and Site Aides are CPR/First Aid certified & background checked
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alsip, Hazelgreen and Oak Lawn School District 126coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides before and after school programming at Hazelgreen Elementary and Stony Creek Elementary. Lane Elementary program combined with Hazelgreen with District-provided transportation.
• Cass School District 63coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates programs at Concord Elementary School and Cass Junior High School serving Darien area families.
• Chicago Ridge District 127.5coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides programming at Freedom Activity Center, Finley Junior High, Ridge Central, and Ridge Lawn schools.
• Community Consolidated District 146coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes students at Central Middle School, Fierke, Fulton, Kruse, and Memorial schools in Tinley Park and Oak Forest areas.
• Forest Ridge School District 142coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms at Foster, Hille, Kerkstra, and Ridge elementary schools serving Oak Forest community.
• Indian Springs School District 109coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes students at Bridgeview, Lyle, Brodnicki, and George T. Wilkins elementary schools.
• Kirby School District 140coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partnership providing transportation to/from Mokena Rec Center from Bannes, Fernway, Helen Keller, McAuliffe, and Millennium schools. Offers A/B hybrid scheduling accommodation.
• Lansing School District 158coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms at Coolidge, Oak Glen, and Reavis elementary schools serving Lansing community.
• Manteno CUSD No. 5coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay Off Programming and before/after school at Manteno Elementary and Manteno Middle School.
• Midlothian School District 143coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Central Park, Kolmar, Springfield, and Spaulding schools in Midlothian area.
• Mokena School District 159coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner with transportation provided to/from Mokena Rec Center from MES, MIS, and Mokena Junior High. Primary service area.
• Palos School District 118coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms at Palos Park Rec Center, Palos East, and Palos West schools.
• Palos School District 117coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes students at Glen Oaks, Oak Ridge, Dorn, and Sorrick elementary schools in Hickory Hills and Palos Hills.
• Frankfort School District 157-CcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation provided from Chelsea, Grand Prairie, Hickory Creek Middle, and other district schools to Mokena Rec Center.
• Homewood School District #153 and Flossmoor School District #161coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms at Faith Lutheran Church location serving Homewood and Flossmoor communities.
• Troy School District 30ccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation to/from Hope Lutheran Church Shorewood from Shorewood, Craughwell, Cronin, Heritage Trail, Hofer, and WBO schools.
• North Putnam Community Schools (Indiana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Bainbridge Elementary, Roachdale Elementary, and North Putnam Middle School in Indiana.
• South Putnam Community Schools (Indiana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms at Central Elementary and Fillmore Elementary in Greencastle, Indiana.
• Steger School District 194minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Steger Primary and Steger Intermediate schools.
• Ridgeland School District 122coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCFS-licensed in-district childcare program for district staff's children (infants, toddlers, two-year-olds) using Montessori-inspired curriculum.
• Nova Quarter HorsesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorseback riding lessons offered every Friday during summer camp at $46 per lesson. Students learn grooming, bathing, feeding, stall cleaning, and riding.
• Illinois Action for Children / CCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccepts Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) state subsidy payments for qualifying families, handling provider ID matching and registration process.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Operates before/after school programs, summer camps, swim lessons, and youth sports across the same Chicago suburbs where Ivy League Kids competes, providing a direct community-rec-center-based alternative.
• Bright Horizons: Largest publicly-traded operator of employer-sponsored childcare and early education with broad portfolio of services; overlaps with Ivy League Kids' before/after school and preschool offerings but operates at national scale with corporate contracts.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Chicago-area affiliates): Nonprofit youth development organization offering after-school programming, sports leagues, and summer camps at club locations across the Chicago metro, comparable in mission and service mix.

Direct peers

• Primrose Schools: Private preschool and before/after school franchise operator with proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum; comparable in offering accredited early education plus school-age care to working families in suburban markets.
• Discovery Point: Childcare and preschool franchise with before/after school, summer camp, and enrichment programs; comparable multi-service offering to working families in suburban markets.
• Guidepost Montessori: Large Montessori school network offering preschool through elementary programs with before/after care extensions; directly comparable to Ivy League Montessori's American Montessori Society-credentialed offering.
• Kiddie Academy: National franchise of educational childcare and before/after school enrichment programs serving infants through school-age children, with a similar curriculum-driven (Life Essentials) approach to enrichment that mirrors Ivy League Kids' STEM/sports model.
• Kids R Kids: Accredited early childhood education and before/after school franchise operating nationally with a curriculum-focused model, similar in mission and program breadth to Ivy League Kids.
• The Learning Experience: National daycare and preschool franchise offering year-round childcare, summer camp, and enrichment programs to working families — directly comparable in age range (infant through school-age) and enrichment-led positioning.
• Children's Lighthouse: Educational childcare franchise providing daycare, preschool, before/after school, and summer camp with proprietary curriculum, comparable to Ivy League Kids' multi-program childcare platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ivyleagueafterschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ivy League Kids